Bookshelf and book support



Sept. 9, 1969 y, CAFIERQ ET AL 3,465,896

BOOKSHELF AND BOOK SUPPORT Filed July 7, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 o //UA 4o HTTORUEV p 9,1969 v. J. CAFIERO ET AL BQOKSHELF AND BOOK SUPPORT 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 7, 1966 m Eur INVENTORS V/NC'E/VT J, CIQF/EROWILL/AM SOHL (fiw L, u) (2M Sg t. 9, 1969 v. J. CAFIERO ETAL 3,465,896

BOOKSHELF AND BOOK SUPPORT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July '2, 1966 A 7'TOEUEY United States Patent U.S. Cl. 211184 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE Apparatus including a slidably adjustable book support andmeans for mounting the book support in a bookshelf wherein the means formounting the book support includes a channel with flanges secured to theundersurface of the bookshelf and a broad channel-shaped slider supportadapted to be slidably received in the channel, the slider supporthaving a pair of laterally extending flanges adapted to be receivedwithin the channel and to ride upon the upper surfaces of the flanges ofthe channel and the book support includes a book follower which dependsfrom the slider support. In an alternative embodiment the book followeris pivotable between horizontal and vertical positions.

This invention relates to bookshelves and book supports, and moreparticularly relates to a bookshelf and hanging book support wherein thebook support is .arranged for slidably adjustable positioning along thebook shelf.

For purposes of this specification, the term bookshelf will refer to ahorizontal surface adapted to and designed for supporting one or morebooks in an upright side-byside position, together with some overlyingstructure spaced upwardly from said horizontal surface, the two defininga space above said horizontal surface for the accommodation of theheight, depth, and thickness of said books arranged side-by-side.Typically, but not necessarily, a top panel which may be the bottom ofanother bookshelf overlying the one in question or may be a top per se,will constitute the aforesaid overlying structure, and sides and a backpanel will be provided to form a bookshelf enclosed on five of sixsides. The term bookcase will refer to a plurality of bookshelves formedas a unit wherein the individual bookshelves are either arrangedside-by-side, one above the other, or a combination thereof.

It is common to store less books on a bookshelf than will fully occupythe side-by-side shelf space. To prevent such books from falling over,one or more book supports are generally employed. A book support is anydevice or structure which can laterally support a book or books at anyposition along the shelf against toppling over sideways. Hanging booksupports have been proposed in the past, but have been difiicult toslide from place to place along the shelf, have provided locking thatmarred or excessively wore the structure within which the book supportslides, thus contributing to additional sliding difficulty, and havebeen unduly complex and accordingly expensive.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved bookshelf andhanging book support.

Another object of the invention is to provide a slidably adjustablehanging book support having simplified but improved locking action tosecure the book support in any position along the bookshelf against andin response to the pressure exerted thereon by one or more bookslaterally contacting the depending portion of the book support.

Another object of the invention is to provide locking action which doesnot mar the structure within which Patented Sept. 9, 1969 the booksupport slides, thereby preserving free sliding capability.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bookshelf and booksupport having the foregoing advantages combined with a capability ofthe depending portion of the book support being pivotable upwardlywhenever desired out of the zone to be occupied by books.

These and other objects .and advantages of the invention will be morefully revealed during the description of two presently preferred butmerely illustrative embodiments thereof, which are shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view partially in section of a portion of abookshelf and a first embodiment of .a hang ing book support engagedwith said bookshelf;

FIG. 2 is a partial front view of the bookcase shown in FIG. 1 partiallybroken away to show the construction of the guide portion thereof whichselectively slides and locks in the bookshelf;

FIG. 3 is a view of the book support shown in FIG. 2 taken along plane3-3 therein;

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to a portion of the view shown in FIG. 1,showing a second embodiment of the hanging book support engaged withinthe bookshelf;

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to the view shown in FIG. 2, showing thesecond embodiment of the book support;

FIG. 6 is a detail view of a portion of the structure within whicheither embodiment of the book support hangs and slides, taken alongplane 6-6 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a view taken along plane 7-7 in FIG. 5.

Referring now to the figures, and particularly to FIGS. l-3 of the firstembodiment, there is shown a bookshelf indicated generally at 10 whichmay be of conventional construction and may be fabricated in wood,metal, combinations thereof, or any other suitable bookshelf material.The bookshelf 10 is a single bookshelf unit forming .a part of a bookcase of several bookshelf units structurally combined, but the inventionis equally applicable to single bookshelf units.

The bookshelf 10 includes a shelf 10a which extends horizontally and isadapted to support upright books which are arranged side-by-side in theusual fashion. The shelf 10a includes a groove 10b (FIG. 1) extending.along each of the left and right sides thereof as viewed from the frontin FIG. 2. A pair of upright panels 12 are disposed at either side ofshelf 10a, and a plurality of apertures 12a (FIG. 1) appear therein.Apertures 12a are aligned into two vertical rows, and are equispacedvertically. There are four such rows, two each in each of upright panels12 in the facing surfaces thereof, and the apertures are aligned asbetween the upright panels 12. That is to say, they are arranged inhorizontal coplanar groups of four, one each in each row. By thisstandard construction, the shelf 10a may be raised or lowered on theupright panels 12 to higher or lower horizontal planes by manipulationof hardware (not shown) which cooperates with apertures of each of thefour rows and the grooves 10b at either side of shelf 10a.

The upright panels 12 extend from one bookshelf to another as aunitizing structure, i.e. they are common to several bookshelves countedboth in the vertical and horizontal directions. A plurality of legs 13extend below the lowermost shelf (not shown) of the bookcase to supportthe entire structure on a floor or the like. A back panel 14 is commonto all the bookshelves 10 in a common vertical stack, and a top panel 15is similarly common to all the uppermost bookshelves of the bookcase. Itwill be noted that the illustrated bookshelf 10 forms the uppermostbookshelf in a particular stack of the bookcase and consequentlyunderlies the top panel 15 so that the bottom surface 15a of the toppanel 15 forms the upper 3 extreme of the bookshelf 10. In lowerbookshelves, the upper extreme of the particular bookshelf is defined bythe lower surface of the shelf a of the bookshelf immediately above.

The bookshelf and book support according to the present inventionincludes a metal channel indicated generally at 20 recessed flushly intothe undersurface a of the top panel 15, extending the entire length ofthe top panel 15 between upright panels 12, and a book support indicatedgenerally at 30 carried for sliding movement within and depending fromchannel 20.

As may be seen in FIG. 1, channel has a crosssectional outline formed byan upper panel 20a terminated at either side by depending web 20b, 20c,formed with inwardly facing lower flanges 20d, 20e respectively. Flanges20d, 20e are essentially parallel to panel 20a, and webs 20b, 200 areessentially perpendicular to panel 20a and flanges 20d, 202'. Theopposed flanges 20d, 20e thus define a wide slot 20 giving access to theinterior 20g of the channel 20. The entire channel 20 is recessed withina groove 15b in the lower surface 15a of top panel 15, of suflicientwidth and depth to fully accommodate the channel 20 so that the flanges20d, 20e lie essentially flush with the lower surface 15a of top panel15. As has already been pointed out, the illustrated bookshelf 10happens to be the uppermost bookshelf in the bookcase. Lower bookshelveswill have the shelf of an overlying bookshelf forming their upperextreme. In that case, the channel 20 will be recessed flushly in themanner just described into the lower surface of the shelf of theoverlying bookshelf rather than into a top panel as illustrated. As maybe seen in FIG. 6, at one end of channel 20 and at both ends if desired,is provided a short portion indicated generally at 20x thereofdistinguished by the absence of flanges 20d and 20e. As will appearpresently, this portion 20x is provided to allow the engagement ordisengagement of individual book supports.

A book support of the first embodiment, shown at in FIGS. 1-3, includesa tilt-locking slider support indicated generally at 31, and a followerplate 32 secured to and depending therefrom. Slider support 31 includesa central body portion 31a which is generally broad channel shaped andslightly narrower in cross-section than opening 20 in the underside ofchannel 20, as may be seen in FIG. 1. Postion 31a is divided into afront portion 31b of deep cross-section and a rear portion 310 ofshallower cross-section (FIG. 2). The book support 30 is employed sothat rear portion 310 overlies the book leaning upon follower plate 32,for a purpose to be presently described. On either side of body portion31a are lateral extensions or flanges 31d, 31c respectively, which arecoplanar, and which extend along the entire length of the slider supportbody 31a. It will be appreciated that the slider support 31 may bestamped from a single piece of stock, or may otherwise be formed. Manymaterials may be employed, e.g. metals or plastics, but it is preferredthat the slider support 31 be fabricated in aluminum or steel.

As may be seen in FIG. 1, the slider support 31 is slidably receivedwithin the channel 20. The interior 20g of the channel 20 is onlyslightly wider than the total width of the slider support 31 at thelateral extensions 31d, 31s, and is only slightly deeper than thethickness of lateral extensions 31d, 31e. In one useful dimensionalembodiment the width of interior 20g is 1.12" while the width acrosslateral extensions 31d, 31e is 1.06", and the depth of interior 20g is0.10" while the thickness of lateral extensions 31d, 31e is 0.06" andthe length of lateral extensions is 1.50". As will appear presently, thecloseness of the fit, and particularly the large ratio of thelongitudinal dimension of extensions 31d, 31e to the clearance betweenthe thickness of those extensions and the depth of interior 20g (in theexample dimensions, a ratio of 1.50" to 0.04", or 37.5 :1) is importantto the advantages of the invention. v

Follower plate 32 is generally rectangular in its main portion 32aalthough it may assume other shapes consistent with its purpose ofmeeting a book mutually broadside. The plate 32 is provided with a rightangle flange 32b is welded to the deeper portion 31b of slider support32b along its upper edge. Flange 31 at 32c and 32d (FIG. 3), but can beattached by other means, e.g. screws. The relation of plate 32 to slidersupport 31 is such that main plate portion 32a is perpendicular to thesliding axis of slider support 31, i.e. to the longitudinal axis ofextensions 31d, 31e.

As previously mentioned, the book support 30 is preferably employed sothat the shallower portion 310 of slider support 31 overlies the booksbeing laterally supported by book support 30. Since the lower extreme ofslider support 31 at portion 31c is essentially flush with channel 20 aswell as the underside 15a of top panel 15, an especially tall bookindicated at B may be accommodated thereunder. Since shelf 10a isadjustable, this can occur even with ordinary size books when otherdemands force the shelf height to be reduced as much as possible, asoften occurs. Despite such accommodation, the leading edge 320 of flange32b of follower plate 32 cannot dig into the undersurface 15a of panel15, because the portion 31b to which it is secured depends below channel20 and undersurface 15a. It should be understood that book support 30 isnot necessarily directional, i.e. books can be supported laterally ateither side thereof. But it is a feature that in the directionillustrated in FIG. 2 and just described, maximum shelf space isobtained for the supported books. As will be presently described, thebook support 30 can be removed from the channel 20 for any purpose,including to reverse the direction of its slider support 31, so thatthis directional advantage may always be claimed by the user, or may beignored when it is not necessary to utilize it.

When a normal book B is laterally supported by follower plate 32, orwhen an extra tall book B (equivalent to a normal book B in a smallerbookshelf space, as by raising shelf 10a) is so supported laterally, thewhole book support 30 tends to turn clockwise (as viewed in FIG. 2),i.e. away from the book and with reference to slider support 31 as apivot member. The amount of such turning is determined by thelongitudinal dimension of lateral extensions 31d, 31c and the degree ofvertical looseness thereof in channel 20. That is to say, the relativelyrigid support 30 will turn until the forward ends 31 of extensions 31d,31e contact the undersurface of top panel 20a of channel 20 and the rearends 31g of extensions 31d, 31c contact the upper surfaces of flanges20d, 20:: of channel 20. A problem exists, in that too much turningcauses secure locking of slider support 31 within channel 20 but alsocauses marring of the interior surfaces of channel 20, which marringsoon leads to sticking of slider support 31 within channel 20 when anattempt is made to slide it freely, as to reposition it along channel20. On the other hand, if very little turning occurs, locking will nottake place, and the books will not be supported laterally in place.

It has been found that the particular channel and slider supportarrangement of the present invention effectively accomplishes thedesired locking, while avoiding marring. This is so primarily because ofthe parallel relation between four planes: the undersurface of panel 20aof channel 20, the upper surfaces of lateral extensions 31d, 3le, theupper surfaces of channel flanges 20d, 202, and the undersurfaces oflateral extensions 31d, 31c; taken together with the aforesaid highratio of length to vertical looseness of lateral extensions 310', 31:;within channel 20. The high ratio directly limits the degree of turning,while the planar character of all the contacting surfaces reduces theamount of high pressure contacting, i.e. distributes the force morebroadly to prevent local diggingin and consequent marring. The result isthat secure locking is achieved without lateral movement of slider 31within channel 20 away from the books B before locking This lateralmovement allows books to lean, and it is considered very desirable inthe art to eliminate it. At the same time, the result is that marringdoes not occur, so that the book supports 30 remain easy to slide alongthe channels when they are not turned to their locking position.

In some applications, for example where very heavy books are supportedin large numbers, or where children can be expected to abuse the device,it is advantageous to extrude or otherwise place a thin nylon or otherselflu'bricating solid substance along either the interior of channel20, or along lateral extensions 20d, 20e, or along both. With suchprovision, even unusually heavy torque loads at slider 31 will notprevent free siding of the support under unloaded conditions.

Referring now to FIGS, 4, 5 and 7, there is shown a second embodiment ofthe book support 30. In this embodiment, the slider support 31 includesspaced, coplanar lateral extensions 31d, 31a of a central body portion31a, as in the first embodiment. The relation of extensions 31d, 31a tothe channel 20, and all the locking and sliding attributes are the sameas has already been described. However the slider support body 31a hasbeen modified to accommodate a pivotable follower rod 35. Body 3111 isof depth intermediate that of portions 31b and 310 of the firstembodiment, i.e. it extends but slightly below channel 20 andundersurface 15a of panel 15. A lateral slot 31h appears centrally inbody 31a, and forward and rear of slot 31h (FIGS. 5 and 7) are dependingwebs 311' and 31 which are edge welded or otherwise joined to theundersurface of body 31a at 31k, 31m.

As may best be seen in FIG. 4, webs 31i, 31 are rectangular and arejoined to body 31a at one extreme end of the upper major edge, so that apair of free ends 31p, 31q extend under panel 15 toward the rear portionof the bookshelf, i.e. toward rear panel 14. A pivot pin 31r is carriedbetween webs 31i, 31 immediately under the connection of the webs to thebody 31a, i.e. between and below extensions 31d, 31e. Pin 311' issecured at either end by caps 31s, which may be formed by riveting.Follower rod 35 includes an aperture 35a at its upper end which receivesthe portion of pin 31r between webs 31i, 31 so that rod 35 is pivotableon pin 31r. Directly under pin 31:, on each of webs 311', 31 is a detent311, 31u, which cooperates with a depression 35b, 350 on either side ofrod 35 to retain the rod 35 in the vertical position shown in fulloutline in FIG. 4. A second pair of detents 31w, 31x appear in webs 31i,31j near ends 31p, 31: facing one another, so as to engage the undersideof rod 35 when it is in the horizontal position shown in broken outlinein FIG. 4, and hold it there. The pivoting between the two positions, asdesired, is manually accomplished. The slot 31h accommodates the upperextreme end of rod 35 when the rod is in the vertical, full outline,position.

The second embodiment of the invention thus offers a follower in theform of rod 35, that can be pivoted up to the horizontal position whennot in use, or can be pivoted down to the vertical position to laterallysupport a book or books. This convenience allows a greater number ofbook supports 30 to be normally carried by a single channel 20, and kepthorizontally out of the way until needed. This obviates the storageproblem for non-used supports 30. As has already been mentioned, thesupport 30 of the second embodiment otherwise slides and locks in themanner of the first embodiment.

In FIG. 6 is shown an end portion 20x of channel 20, adjacent a sidepanel 12 of the bookshelf. It will be noted that the flanges 20d, 20athereof have been removed for a distance slightly greater than thelongitudinal dimension of lateral extensions 31a, 31e of eitherembodiment of slider follower 31. The book support 30 can thereby beinserted into or extracted from engagement within channel 20 at thatpoint. If desired, a similar provision may be made at the other extremeof channel 20, i.e. adjacent the other side panel 12 (not shown). Booksupports 30 may thereby be added or removed as desired, from shelf toshelf, etc., as needed. When a reversal of a support 30 is desired, asaforesaid, it may be accomplished by sliding it to and out of end 20x.

The depending book support and cooperating parts in the bookshelf properaccording to the invention is now seen to provide a pleasing appearance,secure locking, freedom from marring and sticking, maximum shelf spaceutilization both in height and width thereof, easy addition and removal,and in the second embodiment, easy and attractive storage within thebookshelf itself by virtue of the pivoting feature.

The invention has been described by reference to two preferred butmerely illustrative embodiments thereof. Many other variations in formand arrangement of parts can, as will be apparent to those skilled inthe art be practiced within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bookshelf having a horizontal shelf forming the lower extreme ofthe bookshelf for the vertical support of side-by-side books and anoverlying structure forming the upper extreme of the bookshelf, adepending book support and means for slid-ably mounting same to theunderside of said structure comprising:

(a) a channel secured to the underside of said structure, including (i)a planar upper internal surface arranged parallel to said shelf, and

(ii) a planar lower internal surface arranged parallel to said uppersurface and divided into a pair of longitudinal flanges with alongitudinal slot defined therebetween;

(b) a book support for slidable mounting in said channel, including (i)a slider support having a pair of laterally extending coplanar flangesadapted to assume a rest position within said channel in longitudinalcontact between the lower surfaces of said slider support flanges andthe upper surfaces of said channel flanges, and a body portionconnecting said slider support flanges at said channel slot, and

(ii) a book follower secured to said body portion, adapted to dependtoward said shelf to support said books laterally, and pivoted formovement between vertical and horizontal positions in a planeperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said channel and said slidersupport.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein, said book support includesdetents adapted selectively to hold said follower in the vertical orhorizontal positions.

3. In a bookshelf having a horizontal shelf forming the lower extreme ofthe bookshelf for the vertical support of side-by-side books and anoverlying structure forming the upper extreme of the bookshelf, adepending book support and means for slidably mounting same to theunderside of said structure comprising:

(a) a channel secured to the underside of said structure, including (i)a planar upper internal surface arranged parallel to said shelf,

(ii) -a planar lower internal surface arranged parallel to said uppersurface and divided into a pair of longitudinal flanges with alongitudinal slot defined therebetween;

(b) a book support for slidable mounting in said channel, including (i)a broad channel shaped slider support having a pair of laterallyextending coplanar flanges adapted to assume a rest position within saidchannel in longitudinal contact between the lower surfaces of saidslider support flanges and the upper surfaces of said channel flanges,and a depending central body portion connecting said slider supportflanges at said channel slot, said depending central body portionincluding a portion of smaller depth on one side of said book followeradapted to ride bet-ween said 8,465,896 7 8 channel flanges essentiallyflush therewith, and is found the portion of smaller depth of thedepending a portion of larger depth on the other side of central bodyportion. said book follower and secured thereto and adapted to ridebetween and depend appreciably References C t below said channelflanges, said slider support UNITED STATES PATENTS flanges having alongitudinal dimension that is a large multiple of the differencebetween the g g 1 5 X interior depth of said channel and the thickness1747496 2/1930 S 18 of the slider support flanges, and 25O2261 3/1950 iu 1()8 61 (ii) a book follower secured to said depending 10 26951O511/1954 h T 94 XR central body portion and adapted to depend 27065794/1955 i e T XR toward said shelf to support said books laterally.2771196 11/1956 zfi g 94 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 in whichthe book follower consists of a depending vertical portion ROY D FRAZIERPrimar Examiner and a horizontal portion, said horizontal portion being15 y secured to the portion of larger depth of the depending US. Cl.

central body portion so that maximum space is provided 1O8 61 for thebooks on the side of the book follower on which W MPED STATES PATENTOFHCE (my a a lLRTlFlLA'lh or LURlilnLllON a gfif may 3 1465, 896 DatedSeptember 9 19652 lmTento-L-(s) V. J. Cafieroet' al L llifii 11;; Lite.l h and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 23 from bottom, for "sidebyside read side-to side Column3, line M, for "Postionf' read Portion Column 4, lines 3-6 for "32b iswelded to the deeper portion 3 of slider support 32b alongits upper edgeFlange 31 at 32c 32d (FIG. 3) but can be attached by other means e.screws The relation of plate 32 to slider supread 32b along its upperedge. Flange 32b is welded to the deeper portion 31b of slider support31 at 32c and 32d (Fig. 3) but can be attached by other means e. 5;.screws The relation of plate 32 v to slid: sup- SIGNED AND SEALED M 21970 Meat:

ml: x. mm. an. S Office! Comissionew of Patents

